Hydraulic Clutch Questions

[Bill Hain]

Hi Everybody,
I have a Venom 427 -- one of the earlier cars made by Performance Cars in Durban South Africa, and during the winter I try to take it out every two to three weeks (weather permitting) to give it a little run and bring it up to temperature.
About three weeks ago I did that and in short order the clutch wouldn't disengage. I figured that there was some air in the line -- so after getting it back to the garage (no easy task) I bled the hydraulic lines using Dot 3 brake fluid -- but that didn't seem to solve it.
I figured I didn't do it good enough by myself -- so yesterday a friend came up to be my "clutch push guy" and when I started I noticed the fluid was coming out like white with tiny bubbles in it. ??? We kept going figuring it would clear out -- but it didn't work --- still messed up. I'm wondering if I screwed something up using Dot 3 brake fluid --- although I though that's what you use. Could there have been any special sinthetic fluid in there that caused a reaction -- or do I just have a clearly bad air leak???
Thanks guys -- let me know what you think.
I sure hope I didn't screw something up.
Bill

[h2oman]

Bill,
Sounds to me if you have any milky looking fluid you still have air somewhere. I know on mine there are slight loops in the line where air can hide. You just have to bleed the hell out of it.
If there was plenty of fluid in your master cylinder, it's been said that heat from the headers can cause the fluid to boil which will make the clutch fail.
You might want to consider making or buying a heat shield for both brake and clutch reservoirs.
Good luck.

This old thread might help.
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-...-problems.html

[Bill Hain]

Thanks Ned,
Your advice and the thread you enclosed were very helpful --- I'm sure I must still have air in the line or somewhere --- so when the weather gets warm enough to work in the garage I'll get after it again. Thanks --- Bill

[C-man610]

Hi Bill
Some other thoughts - check your master and slave cylnders, I BELIEVE early BDR and Venom 427 used a used Land Rover master cylinder which would fail/leak after use. BDR suggested using WilWood replacement number 260-1304 with .750 bore.

I THINK the unit fails from exhaust heat, hot fluid and seal failures. You may be experiencing this.

Also you may need to raise driver side of the car in the air to allow the fluid to fill the system.

Good Luck
My 2 Cents

[flipscobra]

When I bought my Cobra I had a air leak like that, wore out my wifes leg a n sons to, I would think I had it but in a few days it would not release. I bought a new wilwood an thats when I found the problem.When they put the resavoir on the master cyclinder they left the oring off. It was sucking air there. I bought a power bleeder from Jegs. Its a 1 man operation now. No more trouble.

[Roscoe]

Ditto. I am using CNC remote reservoirs for my brakes and hydraulic clutch. They make a cap with a tire valve on it so you can pressure bleed the lines. It's a one man, easy and totally clean procedure. You might want to look into this.

Roscoe